Residential Clothes Dryers

Manufacturers have been required to comply with the Department of Energy's (DOE) energy conservation standards for residential clothes dryers since 1988. Residential clothes dryers use a tumble-type drum with forced air circulation to dry clothes. They are commonly used in homes, but are also used in some dormitory, apartment, or small business settings.

The current standard will save approximately 0.6 quads of energy and result in approximately $9.3 billion in energy bill savings from 2014-2043. The standard will avoid about 28.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 5.6 million automobiles.

DOE published a Federal Register notice of public meeting regarding test procedures for residential clothes dryers 79 FR 63336 (October 23, 2014). A public meeting is scheduled for November 13, 2014 in Washington, DC. For more information, see the rulemaking webpage.

DOE published a final rule regarding test procedures for residential clothes dryers. 78 FR 49608 (August 14, 2013). For more information, see the rulemaking webpage.

Standards for Residential Clothes Dryers

The following content summarizes the combined energy factor requirements and amended standards of DOE's regulations. The text is not an official reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations and should not be used for legal research or citation.

Docket Number EERE–2007–BT–STD–0010 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

After a regulatory action has been completed, Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to identify the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and to identify those changes made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA. The document below provides more information:

In addition, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.; EPCA), as amended, requires that gas clothes dryers not be equipped with a constant burning pilot for products manufactured on or after January 1, 1988. (42 U.S.C. 6295(g)(3) )

Waivers

Exceptions

DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for residential clothes dryers. For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.

State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption

DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the Federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.

Small Business Exemptions

Any manufacturer of a covered product with annual gross revenues that do not exceed $8,000,000 from all its operations and meets certain other conditions may apply for an exemption to the energy conservation standard. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart E.

The current energy conservation standards for residential clothes dryers are mandated by Part A, the "Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles" of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended. (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309) These appliances are treated as covered products under Part A. (42 U.S.C. 6292(8))

EPCA established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other than Automobiles, covering major household appliances including residential clothes dryers. Later, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act amended EPCA by establishing energy conservation standards for residential clothes dryers manufactured on or after January 1, 1988, and requiring DOE to consider amending standards in two subsequent rulemakings. On May 14, 1991, DOE published a final rule establishing the first set of performance standards for residential clothes dryers manufactured on or after May 14, 1994. 56 FR 22250.

Helpful Links and Contact Information

Helpful Links

Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.